Quick-convertible screen and storm window



May 1942 B. c. JAMES QUICK-CONVERTIBLE SCREEN AND STORM WINDOW FiledFeb. 6, 1940 I 2 V II:

l l l I I I I l l 2| I I I I I INVENTOR.

BARRY C.JAMES ATTORNEYS Patented May 19, 1942 QUICK-CONVERTIBLE SCREENAND STORM WINDOW Barry C. James, Ashtabula, Ohio Application February 6,1940, Serial No. 317,569

Claims.

In the common construction of window screens and storm windows it iscustomary to place and remove the screen and storm windows from theoutside. In many cases this is objectionable because of requiring aladder. In an effort to obviate this, constructions have been proposedwhich could be placed or removed from the inside of the window. Thesehowever have necessitated the opening of both upper and lowerwindowsashes, and have been particularly objectlonable to house-wives in thatthey required the taking down of the curtains and window-furnishings inorder to permit access through the open upper sash for that portion ofthe operations necessitating such access. All together, suchconstructions have tended to involve more annoyance and trouble than themore simple constructions placed and removed entirely from the outside.In accordance with the present in vention however, a construction nowbecomes possible in which the storm sashes and screens can be quicklyand easily placed or removed from the inside, through the lower sash, itbeing unnecessary to disturb the upper sash or window hangings, andinterchangeable and interlocking screen and storm window glass panelscan be easily set or be substituted as desired.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention,then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the following description andthe annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrativeembodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but afew of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may beemployed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a window equipped with construction inaccordance with the invention, the view being taken from within and theregular window sashes being in dotted outline to better show the presentconstruction which is normally on the outside thereof; Fig. 2 is avertical section thereof taken on a plane substantially indicated byline II, Fig. 1, on enlarged scale and broken out centrally of each sashon account of space limitations, the lower window sash being raised;Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the guidingaction of the support-frame during placement or removal of the auxiliarysash element; and Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary elevational views ofdetails.

Referring more particularly to the drawing,

there is shown a window with casing 2, and sill 3 and framing which maybe of any usual con-- struction. Therewithin is a support-frame 4 forthe interchangeable screen or storm window sashes 5, 6 of the presentinvention, the supportframe 4 being placed in the window frame at theoutside and being secured relatively permanently by any desired means,while the auxiliary sash elements 5, 6, with their screen or glassfilling represented by 1'- for conveniencein Fig. 2, are movable intoorout of said support-frame, as desired. In Fig. l, as'noted, for clearershowing of the structure of the invention, the regular window sashes Sare shown in dotted lines, for the customary double-hung two-sashwindow. It will be readily understood, as in fact shown in Fig. 2, thatthe upper sash S and the lower sash S" are, as normally, slidable up anddown, and for the purposes of the present invention the upper sash S ismerely left in its normal upper position and the lower sash S" is raisedinto upper position. The upper auxiliary screen or glass sash element 6is receivable into the support-frame 4, having for instance a tongue 8which fits into a groove 9'in the support-frame at the top. At the sidesof the support-frame 4 shoulders l0 externally serve as stops againstwhich the auxiliary sash element, screen or glass,

come to position. And, during the act of placing or-removing theauxiliary elements, particularly the upper, such shoulders or ledges l0provide a guide against, which the sash may slide. A positive track-wayis thereby provided, receiving and guiding the auxiliary sash inmovement accurately against displacement. As' a further guide means, anupper end-guide I2 is provided at each side on the support-frame 4, thisbeing for instance of metal and extending downwardly and sufllcientlyangularly to receive and accurately position the upper' end of theauxiliary sash element 6 for engagement in the tongue and groove joint.The lower part of the auxiliary sash 6 has two projections or lugs l4,one at each side, extending in the general plane of the sash, and whenthe auxiliary sash element is up in proper engagement in thesupport-frame 4,

these projections or lugs l4 set into recesses I5 which arecorrespondingly positioned in the inner face of the support-frame 4, asshown more particularly in Fig. 5. As a further assistance in theguiding and positioning of the upper auxiliary sash element, a resilientmember I] may be carried at each side, on the stile near the top, andsuch resilient elements may be of curved spring character so as to rideagainst the external faces of the upper Window sash stiles, reducing themanual eilort requisite to accurately slide the auxiliary sash elementinto position. The upper auxiliary sash, as indicated foregoing, is heldby the projections l4 in recesses II, and the lower sash fits by ofisetshoulders against the upper sash and also in position against theshoulder III of the lower portion of the supportframe 4.

In the operation of placing a screen or storm sash, the upper auxiliarysash element 8, with screen or glass as appropriate to the season, isfirst inserted through the opening from inside, the lower window sashbeing raised, as shown in Fig. 2, and the upper end of the auxiliarysash is started against the shoulders III of the stiles of thesupport-frame 4 and is slid up into position, the side-springs II ridingagainst the upper window sash to the extent necessary, and the guides l2receiving and directing the advancing end so that the tongue 8 carriesinto the groove 8 at the top, and the lateral projection l4 slide intothe recesses l5 and the upper auxiliary sash element is positioned, andit is held even though there is no sash under it. The lower auxiliarysash element 6 is then set in place, the bottom end first, and by aswinging movement of the upper end, as indicated in Fig. 2, the lowerauxiliary sash element is closed into interlocking position with theupper. To look the lower element against displacement, a retainer 20 ispivotally mounted as at 2| on the inner face of each stile of thesupport member. Advantageously this may be a dual retainer, as shownmore particularly in Fig. 5, and when set on its pivot 2| in position asshown in full lines the ear 22 sets across on the lower auxiliary sashelement 5 and looks it in position. The upper sash element 6 is ofcourse also positively held by the inter-fitting shoulder engagementbetween such upper and lower sashes, and this is also weather-tight.

To remove the auxiliary sash elements, as for instance in substitutingscreens for storm glass, or vice versa, the retainer 20 is swung on itspivot 2| to position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. This unlocksthe lower auxiliary sash element 5, and it may be quickly removed bypulling on the thumb-hold 24, Fig. 1. The lower auxiliary sash elementbeing swung inwardly as in dotted line position in Fig. 2, can bewithdrawn I from the support-frame, the dual retainer 20 with its ear 25meanwhile holding the upper sash safely locked against displacement eventhough accidentally knocked against or jarred. 0n now swinging theretainer 20 into full line position as in Fig. 5, the lugs [4 areuncovered, and by grasping the lower rail of the upper auxiliary sashelement 6, it may be swung inwardly to clear the lugs l4 from theirreceivingrecesses and the entire auxiliary sash may be quickly slid downand out. It will be noticed that the retainers 20 are easily operablefrom a point below the check rail of ordinary double hung windows.

In cases where the regular window sashes when in upper position projectlower than indicated foregoing, as particularly for instance the lowersash extending down to a position such as indicated at 26, Fig. 2, theupper auxiliary sash element 6 is inserted and removed as describedforegoing, but the lower auxiliary sash 5 is inserted by first bringingits upper end adjacent the lower end of the auxiliary sash element 6such that the narrow nose 5a of the auxiliary sash 5 first slides upinto the space between the: lower rail of element 8 and the lower railof the window sash S,

as indicated in dotted'line position 21 and this raises the auxiliarysash element 5 such that its lower narrow nose or ledge 5b can be passedover the shoulder 4b of the support frame 4 and then be dropped downinto lower engagement and the upper rail of the auxiliary sash I isgiven a further slight outward movement requisite to seat the nose orledge 5a in position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. And, conversely inremoving, the lower auxiliary sash element ii is, by .means of thehandle 24, pulled slightly inward sufficiently to allow the nose orshoulder 5a to be raised up into the space between the lower rail ofelement 8 and the lower rail of the window sash S, and the lowershoulder 5b thus being cleared above the shoulder 4b of thesupport-frame 4, the lower end of the auxiliary sash element 5 is swunginwardly and downwardly and removed. Irrespective thus of conditionsencountered in difierent window installations, there is room formovement in positioning or un-positioning the auxiliary sash elementswith the lower regular window sash raised.

Storm-tight engagement of the assembly is secured, as seen, by thetongue and groove engagement above and by the mating shoulder engagementon the sides and elsewhere. The' running in of water above may beinsured against also by providing a calking rabbet 28, which may betightened with putty or other desired material.

Thus, weather-construction as tight as desired may be had, but theremoval and changing of the auxiliary sash elements may be accomplishedparticularly rapidly and easily, merely by opening the lower window sashand without disturbing the curtains or mountings. Removal to permitwindow-washing is in this manner convenient and rapid, withoutrequirement of necessity of waiting for general seasonal removal ofstorm windows as otherwise necessary. With th system of guides provided,the movement of the upper auxiliary sash element is accurate and rapid,without requiring close attention to the details of movement, theguiding being automatic in its character, and the elements in positionare securely locked until such time as a seasonal cillange from screensto glass or vice versa is des ed.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent ofsuch, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In window construction involving a supportframe for positioning in awindow frame outside the regular window sashes, auxiliary upper andlower sash elements to fit in said support-frame, guides at the upperpart of said support-frame to direct the top of the upper sash elementinto the support-frame, shoulders along the sides of said support-frameto prevent lateral displacement of said sash element, curved springguide means on said upper auxiliary sash element to prevent inwarddisplacement thereof, lateral projections on the lower part of saidupper auxiliary sash element, recesses in said support-frame to receivesaid projections, shoulder means at the top of the lower sash element toengage the upper sash element, and dual retaining means centrallypivoted to the support-frame near the Joint of the upper and lowerauxiliary sash elements and having an upper ear to extend over thelateral projection on the .upper auxiliary sash element when turned inits. direction and a lower ear to lock the lower auxiliary sash elementwhen turned in its direction.

2. In window construction involving a support-frame for positioning in awindow frame outside the regular window sashes, auxiliary upper andlower sash elements to fit in said support-frame, guides at the upperpart of said support-frame to direct the top of the upper sash elementinto the support-frame, shoulders along the sides of said support-frameto prevent lateral displacement of said sash element, curved springguide means on said upper auxiliary sash element to prevent inwarddisplacement thereof, lateral'projections on the lower part of saidupper auxiliary sash element, recesses in said support-frame to receivesaid projections, shoulder mean at the top of the lower sash element toengage the upper sash element, and dual retaining means centrallypivoted to the support-frame near the Joint of the upper and lowerauxiliary sash elements and having ears directed toward the auxiliarysash elements and movable over either respectively.

3. In window construction involving a support-frame for positioning in awindow frame outside the regular window sashes, auxiliary upper andlower sash elements to fit in said support-frame, guides at the upperpart of said support-frame to direct the top of the upper sash elementinto the support-frame, shoulders along the sides of said support-frameto prevent lateral displacement of said sash element, resilient guidemeans on said upper auxiliary sash element to prevent inwarddisplacement thereof,

tion over the lateral projection on the upper auxiliary sash element anda lower extension to lateral projections on the lower part of saidauxiliary element, recesses in said support-frame to receive saidprojections, shoulder means at the top of the lower sash element toengage the upper sash element, and dual retaining means centrallypivoted to the support-frame near the joint of the upper and lowerauxiliary sash elements and having an upper extension to posi- 1 angleof inclination.

alternatively lock over the lower auxiliary sash element.

4. In window construction involving a supportframe for positioning in awindowirame outside the regular window sashes, auxiliary upper and lowersash elements to flt in said supportframe, shoulders along the sides ofsaid supportframe top prevent lateral displacement of said sash element,resilient guide means on said upper auxiliary sash element to preventinward displacement thereof, lateral projections on the lower part ofsaid auxiliary element, recesses in said support-frame to receive saidprojections, shoulder means at the top of the lower sash element toengage the upper sash element, and dual retaining means centrallypivoted to the supportframe near the joint of the upper and lowerauxiliary sash elements and having an upper extension to position overthe lateral projection on the upper auxiliary sash element and a lowerextension to alternatively look over the lower auxiliary sash element.

5. In window construction involving a supportirame for positioning in awindow frame outside the regular window sashes, auxiliary upper andlower sash elements to fit in said support-frame,

shoulders along the sides of said support-frame to prevent; lateraldisplacement of said sash element, resilient'guide mean on said upperauxiliary sash element to prevent inward displacement thereof, shouldermeans at the top of the lower sash element to engage the upper sashelement, and dual retaining means centrally pivoted to the support-framenear the Joint of the upper and lower auxiliary sash elements and havingears extending toward said auxiliary sash elements and placeable overthe'upper or the lower auxiliary sash element selectively according tothe BARRY 0. JAMES.

